Automatic shutoff for tank filling



Jilly 1953 -r. o. cox E TAL 2,646,

, AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR TANK FILLING Filed July 10, 1950 I5 Sheets-Sheet l mi mrozw.

ITTORA/EX July 28, 1953 1-. o. cox ETAL 2,646,817

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR TANK FILLING Filed July 10, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS ATTORA/EX y 1953 T. o. cox ET AL AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FOR TANK FILLING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 10, 1950 INVENTORIS.

ATTORNEY.

l atentecl July 28, 1953 AUTOMATIC sHUroFF FOR TANK FILLING Thomas 0. .CoxfBuibank, Homer 0. Rankin,

North Hollywood, and Samuel A. Trott, Long Beach, Calif.', assignors to Sheflield Instrument Company, Burbank,'Calif., a corporation of California Application July 1 0, 1950, Serial No. 172,894 7 This invention relates to an improved automatic shut-off for tank filling and has ioroneof its principal objects the provision'of meanswhich can be inserted into a liquid holding tank whereby the supply line employed in filling the tank will be automatically closed when the liquid in the tank has reached a predetermined level:

One of the important objects of thisinvention is the provision, in an automatic shut-off means for tank fillers which, will be found most efficient in those tankrfilling devices described as submerged loading, namely, such apparatus wherein tanks are filled from below by liquid pumped in under pressure. v

V This invention has been found particularly desirable when used with the fueling nozzle and adapter previously invented by us and for which an application for U. S. Letters Patent was filed on July 13, 1949, Serial No. 104,412.

, The device also operates very efiiciently in conjunction with the rotatable quick opening valve previously invented by us and for which we filed an application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 117,862, filedseptember 26, 1949. V

A particular object of thisjinvention is the application of same to the filling of tank trucks such as those ordinarily used in transporting gasoline and other petroleum products which, on account of the inflammable nature of the liquid, makes handling of the same somewhat hazardous in'any event, but it will be understood that the device of this invention may be employed in the filling of practicallyall sorts of containers-with almost any liquid to a desired predetermined level. i 7

While the invention can be more readily employed with our previously developed invention, as describedabove', the same can be employed with many other types of tank filling and liquid handling apparatus with very little, if any, change in construction or operation. 7

Other and further important objects of the invention wil1' be apparent from the disclosures in' the accompanying drawings and following specification. a The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. 1

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the more modern tank trucks commonly employed for transporting petroleum-and other products and which, on account of its equipment, is known in the trade as the submerged loading? type. v

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the arrange- 4 Claims. (01. 137-235) ment of valves ordinarily employed with tank trucks such as those shown in Figure l and illustrating the same as used in conjunction with the fillingnozzle adapter and automatic shut-off of our inventions. V

Figure 3 is a more detailed view, partly in section, showing the upper end of. one of the compartments or tanks of the truck of Figure 1 and illustrating the'device of this invention installed therein for automatic control of the level to which the tank is to be filled with liquid.

Figure 4 is a still more detailed view showing practically all of the main features of the automatic ShUt-OlTfiGVlCB of. this invention and illustrating the same as employed in conjunction with the refueling nozzle and nozzle adapter of our earlier inventions."

v Figure 5 is a'detail view of the pressure controlled diaphragmandits housing which regulates and controls the valve opening and closing means. j Y

V ',Figure 6. is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, illustrating particularly the diaphragm, its housing, the pressure control means therefor and the pin operated by the diaphragm which retains or releases the valve handle as desired. I

' Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the" line '1 of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. v

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional viewon the line 88 of Figure' l.

Figure'Q illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 illustrates a further modification by one which is gravity operated. As'shown in the drawings: The reference numeral 12 indicates generally a tank truck used for the transportation of liquids of various types as is usual in such trucks,

and the same; is provided with a plurality of liquid holding compartments such as the one indicated by the dotted lines 14, the liquidholding compartments being variable in number. This invention can be used with practically all other tanks equipped with controlled venting.

Tank'trucks such asthese are usually filled from below by liquid pumped inthrough a pipe or nose It and this liquid passes through a segregating and control pipe it which has a plurality of outlet pipes 20 leadingtherefrom to the respective compartments 14 of the tank truck 12.

A selector valve handle 22 is usually employed for directing the flow ofliquid into a particular wherein the spring controlled handle is replaced 3 compartment, all this being usual in the art and forming no part of the present invention.

The pipe I3 is illustrated as coupled to the nozzle adapter developed by us, indicated by the reference numeral 24 and our refueling nozzle designed'fo'r use therewith is indicated by the reference numeral 26. The operating handle 28 of the refueling nozzle 26 is controlled by the pressure operated diaphragm of the present invention, the diaphragm housing being shown at 38 and aiiixed to the casing of the refueling nozzle 28 in any convenient manner as by bolts and brackets 32 shown in more detail in Figure 4.

The handle 28 of the refueling nozzle 26 is constrained into a normal valve closing position by means of a spring 34 mounted in a housing 36 associated with the handle and which housing is likewise mounted on the casing 26 of the nozzle.

The handle 28 is fixed on a shaft 38 upon which the valve 48 is likewise mounted and a cover plate 42 is also fixed to the handle shaft 38, this cover plate having a series of notches 44 in its periphery. A pin 46 (Figure 6) projects from the diaphragm housing 36 and rides on the circumference of the cover plate 42 in such a manner that its end will fit into any one of the notches 44 when the handle 28 is rotated to that particular valve regulating position. The pin 46 is slidably mounted in a bushing 48 in the diaphragm housing 38 and this is machined to allow free sliding motion.

The inner end of the pin 46 is fastened to the center of the diaphragm 58 by any suitable means, such as a nut 52, and will accordingly be moved in and out of the casing 36 through its bushing 48 as the diaphragm '58 is actuated.

An air or fluid conducting pipe 54 is connected to that side of the housing 38 opposite the side which supports the pin 46 and the diaphragm 50 is actuated by pressure conveyed through the pipe 54. A small opening 56 is made in that side of the housing 30 for controlled outward flow of the pressure from the pipe 54 and another opening slightly larger than the one shown at 56 is drilled into the opposite side of the housing 38, as best indicated at B in Figure 6.

It will be obvious that pressure entering the casing 30 from the pipe 54 will force the center of the diaphragm 58 and the pin 46 against the periphery of the plate 42 and into one of the notches 44, if such a notch happens to be in line with the pin 46. The size of the opening 56' is such that if the pressure coming through the inlet ipe 54 exceeds a predetermined number of pounds per square inch, the pin Will be maintained in handle locking position. Conversely, if the pressure from the inlet 54 drops below a predetermined point, the pin 46 will be no longer held in a notch 44. The predetermined pressure can obviously be varied through a considerable range, depending upon circumstances.

The pipe or conduit 54 i connected by means of a quick release coupling 66 to a similar pipe 62 which is mounted on the nozzle adapter 24 and which then leads to a connection 64 fitted into a similar pressure line 66 which runs along the top of the tank truck I2. Individual connections 68 are made from this pressure line 66 to the interior of each of the compartments I4 in the truck. Obviously, if but a single tank is to be filled, the connecting element 64 and the distributing line 66 are unnecessary and can be eliminated.

The connection 66 forms the upper end of an exteriorly screw threaded pipe I8 which is adjustably mounted in the top portion of the container I4. This adjustable mounting includes retaining nuts 12 whereby the distance which the pipe projects down into the tank or container I4 can be adjusted to a very considerable degree of ac curacy. A ball valve 74 is mounted in the connection 68 just above a supporting plate 16 which is at the upper end of the pipe "Iii and this supporting plate has an opening 18 therethrough which is ordinarily closed by the weight of the ball 14. Passages lead from the ball valve to the pipe 66. This ball valve is for the purpose of allowing free egress of air through the opening' 18' but to prevent any loss of pressure through tanks not being filled. These valves also prevent contaminationof liquid in one tank when another tank is being filled with another liquid.

Mounted in the lower or inner end of the pipe 10 is a sleeve 82, the upper end of which is pierced with a restricted opening 84 as best shown in Figure 4. Loosely mounted in the lower end of the sleeve 82 is an inverted float somewhat U-shaped in cross section having its top closed and its lower end open. This float is held in position in the end of the sleeve 32 in any suitable manner, as by a cross pin 88. The upper end of the float 86 is adapted to provide a fluid sealing relationship with a valve seat 96 fitted into the corresponding portion of the sleeve 82.

A cover 92 is fitted onto an opening 94 in the top of the tank or container I4, as best shown in Figure 3, and this is provided with a weight 96 or is spring loaded, whereby the pressure inside the tank I4 due to infiowirig liquid will be kept at a predetermined point. 7

When it is desired to fill the tank or container I4 to a predetermined level, as indicated in Figure 4, the pipe 18 and its connections and fittings are fastened into the top of the tank I4 and adjusted to shut-off level. Liquid is then allowed to flow through the hose I6, the nozzle and nozzle adapter 26 and 24 and through one of the pipes 20 into its corresponding tank or container I4.

Liquid 98 rising in the tank will obviously increase the pressure inside the tank, which pressure is regulated by the weight or spring load on the cover 92.- The handle 28 having been opened to permit liquid flow is manually held in such open position until the pressure in the tank arrives at approximately the predetermined point, which pressure is transmitted through the pipe I8 and the lines 66, 62 and 54 to the diaphragm housing 38, thereby forcing the diaphragm 58 with its pin 46 into one of the notches 44 in the plate 42. The end of the pin is rounded to fit into the notch 44 in such a fashion that so long as the desired pressure is maintained in the line, the pin will be retained in the notch; holding the handle in open position against the tension of the spring 34. Manual control of the handle can then be relinquished.-

Any air inside the tank I4 which does not escape past the weighted cover 92 will flow past the float or capsule 86 through the opening 84 into the pipe I0 and thence through the opening I8 past the ball valve 14 and through the channels 86 into the line 654 actuating the diaphragm 58. This condition will be maintained until the liquid 98 reaches the shut-off level as shown in Figure 4, at which juncture the float 86 will be raised, forcing its upper end into liquid sealing contact with the valve seat 98.

Any pressure on the diaphragm 50 will then be immediately released, as the air or other fluid will escape through the opening 56 in the diaphragm casing 36, which opening is of an exact calculated size and which must always be smaller than any of the inlet passages, such as the space between the float 8S and the inner face of the sleeve 82 or any of the passages l8, 8%! and 84. The inside diameter of the passages 54, 62 and 66 is likewise of an according size, as is the size of the opening 58 in'the casing 30 on the opposite side of the diaphragm 50.

When the pressure on the diaphragm 59 drops as herein described, the pressure of the pin 46 in the notch M will not suffice to hold the handle 28 in open position against the tension of the spring 34, whereby the handle will be released and will automatically move the valve to closing position. The amount of liquid allowed to flow into the tank by the use of the arrangement of this invention can therefore be controlled to a high degree of accuracy.

In Figure 9 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown, wherein the float 86 is dispensed with, and the end of the pipe H3 is simply closed with a plug 1 I. Thi plug is provided with an opening I3 therein which is of a size larger than the opening 55, this size being such that the amount of air or other fluid escaping therethrough when the tank is being filled Will be so controlled as to maintain a predetermined pressure inside the tank and upon the corresponding face of the diaphragm 59. When the liquid 98 reaches the lower face of the plug 1 l which is the shut-off level as indicated, the flow of air through the opening 13 will immediately drop, whereby pressure on the corresponding face of the dia phragm 50 will be released, allowing the valve to close as previously described. In this embodiment some liquid will flow through the opening 13, but ordinarily will not rise very high inside the pipe or tube and will almost never get past the ball valve 14 or into the lines 66 or beyond.

In Figure 10 a modification of the invention is illustrated, wherein the spring 34 is dispensed with, and a counter-Weight 35 cooperates with the handle 28 and the rotatable plate 42 in such a manner that the valve will be automatically closed by gravity when pressure on the pin 46 is released.

It will be obvious that herein is provided a simple, yet efficient and positively operating automatic shut-off device for use in connection with the filling of tanks and other containers with liquid to a predetermined level. The distance to which the pipe 19 projects into the tank or container 14 can be conveniently adjusted and the pressure which results from the filling operation can be accurately controlled. The operation of the diaphragm and its associated pin is such that there is practically nothing to get out of order and the only spring in the combination is that which controls the handle 28. Even this can be eliminated and a gravity control employed. The float 86 can never become water-logged and will always operate even under the most adverse conditions. There are no pivoted arms to shake loose or break, which would inevitably happen if such devices were employed in mobile gas tank trucks which often does occur when moving such trucks over rough roads at fairly high speeds.

The detent mechanism is so designed that it can be manually over-ridden at any time, if necessity arises.

The device eliminates the necessity of employing two men for a tank filling operation which is necessary when no automatic shut-off is available. One man must watch the level inside the tank through an open hatch at the top while the second man handle the valve. Danger from explosion when handling inflammable liquid is thereby averted, because overflow and over-filling cannot happen.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and We, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. An automatic shut-off for tank filling, including a supply line, a manually controlled valve including a handle in the line, means for mechanically holding the valve in open position, means governed by pressure inside the tank to control said mechanical means, said mechanical control for the valve including a pressure operated diaphragm, a pin operated by the diaphragm, and a plate rotatable with the valve and notches in the periphery of the plate for cooperation with the end of the pin.

2. In a device as described in claim 1, means for normally returning the handle and valve to closed position.

An automatic shut-off for filling any one of a plurality of connected tanks, including a supply line, a manually controlled valve in the line,

means for mechanically holding the valve in open position, means governed by pressure inside a tank to control said mechanical means, said mechanical control for the valve including a pressure operated diaphragm, and a casing for the diaphragm and pressure control openings in the casing, on both sides of the diaphragm, a pressure line common to all the tanks, and an individual valve for any one tank being filled.

4. A device as described in claim 3, which includes valves in the tanks not being filled to prevent leakage of pressure into said tanks from the tank being filled.

THOMAS O. COX. HOMER C. RANKIN. SAMUEL A. TROTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,390 Rose May 19, 1891 598,345 Kellom Feb. 1, 1898 812,451 Rice Feb. 13, 1906 1,993,006 Hermanns Mar. 5, 1935 2,420,341 Samiran et al May 13, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 868,176 France of 1941 

